A Senate committee Tuesday approved creating an annual “day of remembrance” in Florida for slain conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk.
The Republican-controlled Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 5-2 along party lines to approve the bill (SB 194), which would designate Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday, as “Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance.” It also would authorize the governor to issue a proclamation on the day.
Democrats brought up a number of Kirk’s comments about guns, race and women, but bill sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said the comments were taken out of context. “You can make anybody, like you’re trying to do with Charlie, sound like they’re a bad person,” Martin said. “He’s not a bad person. And for everybody who has seen that full interview where he talks about guns, everybody understands that’s a rational conversation. Those are rational thoughts, and even if you disagreed with it, the man lost his life because he said, ‘come debate me.’”
Kirk, a co-founder and executive director of the national conservative group Turning Point USA, was murdered in September during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee, argued that elevating Kirk raises questions and concerns about values that Florida honors. “He is known historically and nationally for minimizing racism and denying systemic discrimination, attacking communities of color and LGBTQ-plus youth, spreading misinformation about elections and public health and using rhetoric that divides Floridians rather than unites us,” Bracy Davis said.
Bracy Davis and Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, raised Kirk’s April 23, 2023, statement on guns during a Turning Point USA Faith event, where he said, “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our God-given rights.” Polsky told Martin, “He’s still responsible for his own statements, no matter how you try to justify it.”
John Labriola of the Christian Family Coalition told the committee it is “unfortunate that the far left has taken quotes out of context and tried to defame Charlie Kirk at a time when that kind of hatred actually fueled his assassination in the first place.” Martin’s bill would need approval from the Senate Education Postsecondary and Fiscal Policy committees before it could go to the full Senate during the legislative session that will start Jan. 13. A House version (HB 125) has not been heard in advance of the session.
–News Service of Florida
Dusty says
A hero for the normal people that love America. Thank you.
Laurel says
Dusty, a debater is not a hero. There are many people who actually did good for the State of Florida, and they are not being honored. A man from Louisiana, who sang about being shitfaced in Mexico, and a debater, whose ideas denigrate women are being honored, yet, they are not heroes. You are being mollycoddled by those who want your vote.
Deborah Coffey says
When will “Hitler Day” be?
Sunny says
Its coming disguised in a fat orange suit!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
“John Labriola of the Christian Family Coalition told the committee it is “unfortunate that the far left has taken quotes out of context and tried to defame Charlie Kirk at a time when that kind of hatred actually fueled his assassination in the first place.”
Wonder what his Jesus would say.
Judith G. Michaud says
So sad and disgusting at the same time !
Jeanette C. says
Ridiculous!!!
Sunny says
Pathetic hateful racist! Disgraceful. Veterans are rolling in their graves!
Im ashamed but this regime & DeathSantis have made the US a world joke!
Bill Green says
Sad and pathetic that a proven racist, misogynist & homophobic conspiracy theorist is being honored as a role model for ALL kids. There was no crossover consensus on this horrid legislation because it was initiated and approved by ONLY Trump’s Republicans.
wow says
Next will be “Hate an Immigrant Day” and then “Hate Non-White People Day”.
Pierre Tristam says
I don’t think Florida wants to commemorate what it already does by policy and curriculum.
Shark says
What a joke – only in florida !!!!